Willow Springs
This park is a great refuge for birds in the concrete jungle of Long Beach. Willow springs is a native habitat restoration project so expect to see lots of coastal sage brush.
As you walk down the hill from the parking lot you’ll notice that the brick wall is covered in a mural highlighting some of the plants and animals that call the park home. I helped paint the tree. :)
Keep an eye out for hawks! I’ve seen quite a few red-tailed hawks here and one time I saw a coopers hawk. I suspect that they have a lot of small rodents to choose from in this park.
My Visit:
Date: July 3, 2026
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Weather: Sunny with a bit of clouds ~80 F
Habitat: Since Willow Springs is a restoration project the habitat varies a bit. It is technically a seasonal wetlands designed to capture the winter rains. The trail is dusty and dry, but there are a ton of larger trees that line the trail with lots of smaller shrubs and grasses at their base. Plenty of places for birds to rest and look for food.
Observations:
When we first arrived I noticed a house finch singing its heart out for us. I wasn’t able to pinpoint exactly where it was hiding but I just love how they sound. That was about it as far as birds go, it was probably a bit too hot for them. We made our way down into the shadier area of the park known as Mule Fat lane. The trees created a nice microclimate that felt a great deal cooler than the other areas of the park.
Normally we walk along the back side of the reservoir to hike a full loop around the park, but it was a bit too overgrown during this visit. Once we hit that overgrown section we just turned around and headed back the way we came.
Species account:
Harlequin Bug
Bladderpod
Coastal Goldenbush
Currant Tomato
Common Sunflower
Mule Fat